Improvement in boot and shoe stretchers



TY. VHNSHEP.

Bodt and. Shqe Stretchersf 010,152,785, Ptented fuly 7,1874.

V THE GRMHXC C0 PHOTO L "H 395ni-1PARK PLACE NY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS VVINSHIP, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOT AND SHOE STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part 'of Letters Patent No. 1 52,785, dated July 7, 1874; application filed November 3, 1873.

ers skilled in the art to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe, referring to the drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The nature of this invention consists in arranging two spur-gears and distender-screw within a twopart shell, representing the heel and instep of a foot, having a cam or wedge formed or secured on the front end, so that, by turning the gears, the screw, which is fitted into one of said gears, will operate to extend or retract the wedge or cam, which dis tends the parts of the front portion of the former in the usual way.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a top view.

a is a half of the heelsection of the shell in which the mechanism is arranged. Each half of this shell has bearings formed therein to receive the body surface of the screw 1) and the journals of the gear 0 or its spindle 4. Gear 0 is provided with a screw-threaded socket, and is filed closely and works freely on the screw b, and between the shoulders of the bearings, so as to prevent end play of the gear and allow it to play or revolve freely upon the screw. The gear 0 is secured onto and near the end of the operating-spindle d. The screw b is arranged in about a horizontal position near the bottom of the shell, and the gear 0 and spindle (I in about an angle of fortyfive degrees therewith, and so that the gears shall fit closely and play freely one with the other. On the front end of this shell is formed a dovetail, g, for connecting the different sizes, styles, and shaped formers or stretchers. f is a cam or wedge, made or secured onto the end of the screw 1). By turning the spindle by the handle it the nut-gear 0 will actuate the screw with its cam or wedge f forward to dist-end the former 17, and thus stretch the boot or shoe as desirable.

I believe Ihave thus shown the nature, construction, and operation of this invention, so as to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same therefrom.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The nut-gear 0, running on a screw, 1), and provided with cam f 011 its forward end, in combination with gear 0 and spindle d, all arranged within a case, a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

THOMAS YVINSHIP.

Vitnesses J. F. CARPENTER, JEREMY W. BLIss. 

